Uk Approves Gepan For Home Use – A Chondroitin Bladder Instillation

Gepan instill, a potential treatment for cystitis and overactive bladder, has been added to the Drug Tariff effective October 1, 2015! This means that people with chronic cystitis and overactive bladder syndrome can now easily treat themselves in the comfort and convenience of their own homes rather than having to go to hospital clinics.

This is a positive step for patients. Rather than being tied to time-consuming and inconvenient hospital appointments, a system that can make them feel that they are ill and dependent on others, they are empowered to manage their condition themselves at home and improve their quality of life.

Gepan® instill comes as a non-viscous liquid which is introduced to the bladder via a catheter, a straightforward process which can be easily taught to patients. It temporarily coats the lining of the bladder, known as the GAG layer, sealing over cracks and weaknesses to prevent urine seeping through to the deeper layers and causing inflammation.

There are several types of these GAG layer replenishment therapies using different substances to coat the inner wall of the bladder, but an independent review of them all (Madersbacher, 2013) found that Gepan® instill was the favoured treatment.

This was based on clinical evidence, however there are several other reasons for Gepan® instill being the best choice.

The non-viscous 40ml solution comes in a pre-filled syringe with an innovative tip that fits directly on to most catheters, and flows easily into the bladder. No needles, sharps disposal boxes, “drawing up” procedure or thick, sticky fluid to force along the tube.

A study (Nordling, 2008) showed a high level of treatment satisfaction with doctors (82%) and patients (77%) in a study. Effectiveness, safety and tolerability of instillations were investigated in 286 patients with chronic cystitis. All the main symptoms (pain, urgency and frequency) showed a statistically significant improvement over three months.

Gepan® instill has also been shown to be more effective than the standard treatment for Overactive Bladder Syndrome, Tolerodine Tartrate (Gauruder-Burmester, 2009). The retrospective study concluded that Gepan® instill “results in a more sustained improvement or cure of the symptoms of overactive bladder”. After a year of treatment, 72% of a Gepan® instill patients enjoyed reduction of symptoms, as opposed to 43% of those on Tolterodine Tartrate. Then when the patients were followed up a year after the treatment had stopped, 56% of Gepan patients still had symptom improvements while just 15% of Tolterodine patients were able to say the same thing.

Gepan Instill is listed in the October Drug Tariff part IXA Appliances, where the price for 40ml is £68.00

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My Google Profile+ Jill Heidi Osborne is the president and founder of the Interstitial Cystitis Network, a health education company dedicated to interstitial cystitis, bladder pain syndrome and other pelvic pain disorders.
As the editor and lead author of the ICN and the IC Optimist magazine, Jill is proud of the academic recognition that her website has achieved. The University of London rated the ICN as the top IC website for accuracy, credibility, readability and quality. (Int Urogynecol J - April 2013). Harvard Medical School rated both Medscape and the ICN as the top two websites dedicated to IC. (Urology - Sept 11). Jill currently serves on the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Panel (US Army) where she collaborates with researchers to evaluate new IC research studies for possible funding. Jill has conducted and/or collaborates on a variety of IC research studies on new therapeutics, pain care, sexuality, the use of medical marijuana, menopause and the cost of treatments, shining a light on issues that influence patient quality of life.
An IC support group leader and national spokesperson for the past 20 years, she has represented the IC community on radio, TV shows, at medical conferences. She has written hundreds of articles on IC and its related conditions.
With a Bachelors Degree in Pharmacology and a Masters in Psychology, Jill was named Presidential Management Intern (aka Fellowship) while in graduate school. (She was unable to earn her PhD due to the onset of her IC.) She spends the majority of her time providing WELLNESS COACHING for patients in need and developing new, internet based educational and support tools for IC patients, including the “Living with IC” video series currently on YouTube and the ICN Food List smartphone app! Jill was diagnosed with IC at the age of 32 but first showed symptoms at the age of 12.

Interstitial Cystitis Network

The ICN is a health education company dedicated to IC and chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Rated the top patient website dedicated to IC in peer reviewed studies by Harvard (2011) and the Univ. of London (2013), our goal is to empower, educate and encourage patients and providers!